President Donald Trump went to the White House briefing room on Thursday morning to announce new employment figures showing that 4.8 million jobs were added in June, calling it “spectacular news.”
“Today’s announcement shows that our economy is rebounding” from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump said.
Economic experts have said the numbers could be misleading, showing only a temporary return before unemployment rises again.
He indirectly recognized the record increase nationwide in new cases in “some places where we are putting out the flames, the fires.”
The president said his administration was working with governors to deal with the worsening crisis. “Getting rid of the flame, Trump said,” is happening. ”
“The crisis is being handled,” he said.
Trump also predicted a strong third quarter.
“The good thing is that the numbers will come out just before the election, so people will be able to see them,” he added.
After the president left without asking questions, his economic advisers continued to defend the administration’s push to reopen the economy amid the coronavirus, even as some states have had to reverse course due to an increase in cases.
“I would not say otherwise, I would say that the states are pausing certain things, like bars and gyms, which are obviously the most contagious types, and I think the states are acting properly,” said Treasury Secretary Mnuchin. He played down the fact that some states have had to reverse their reopens.
When asked if the White House regretted encouraging states to reopen so quickly, Mnuchin replied: “Absolutely not. I think we have had a very careful plan, once again, working with states. This is primarily the responsibility of the states. ”
While Mnuchin sought to place primary responsibility on states, he said he believes they have struck “the right balance and we are working with states on health and economic issues.”
“If you have to phase out, as Steven said, phase out the bars, then so be it, for a few weeks, I think some places might have been too lush,” added the president’s chief economist, Larry Kudlow.
Mnuchin also defended that the president does not wear masks, even when the administration is now encouraging the general public to wear them.
“Because he is the President of the United States and people are not around him and people who are close to him are being screened, I don’t think he needs to wear a mask, but the rest of us and absolutely the President support wearing a mask, “said Mnuchin.
He noted in his initial comments that he and Kudlow were not wearing masks because they had both been tried on.
When asked by ABC News White House chief of correspondents Jonathan Karl if he was concerned about the increase in new jobless claims, Mnuchin said, “We will be concerned until everyone returns to work, but said the numbers must be considered within the context of the current situation and argued that the focus should be on the numbers of jobs, which he says are “the most accurate numbers”
Mnuchin briefly spoke about the additional assistance the administration plans to negotiate with Congress. “There will be a number of companies that will be particularly affected, and we are going to seek to give those companies additional money,” Mnuchin said.
Mnuchin also said that the federal government is “working with schools and universities” to make sure that students can safely return to school in the fall.
“I think in most cases schools will be able to open safely. Some schools will need to spend money, “he said, suggesting that the administration will” absolutely “support funding in the next stimulus to support schools that may need to spend on equipment and other resources to allow for social distancing.
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